Breech-loading fire-arm



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Nol Model.)

W. E. BUDD. Breach Loadingl'll'ire Arm.

NQ. 240,653. Patented mpril 261, 1881.

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` N. Pains. PHpTo-LITHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D4 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. BUDD, OF OHATHAM, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES BRYCE, OF MADISON, NEW JERSEY.

BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,653, dated April 26, 1881,

Application tiled October 1, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern Beit known that I, WILLIAM E. BUDD, of Chatham, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Arms, of which the following is a4 specification.

`Although my invention is applicable to breech-loading rifles and shot-guns of various kinds, it is especially intended for use in what are known as hammerless shot guns, in which the hammers Work under cover of and are concealed by the breech-block.

My invention consists in the combination, in a breech-loadin g fire-arm, of a barrel and a base plate or piece, lugs upon one part engaging with recesses in lthe other part,.a longitudinal rod inserted through said lugs and the part receiving said lugs, for securing said barrel to said base plate or piece, and a breech-block, through which said rod passes, and which is movable upon said rod.

It also consists in the combination, with said base plate or piece, said barrel, and said lon gitudinal rod, of a novel arrangement of springcatch for holding said rod in place.

It also consists in certain novel means Whereby the breech-block is locked to the above-described longitudinal rod, and also to the barrel.

It also consists in a novel means of adjusting or regulating1 the pull of the trigger of a lire-arm.

It also consists in certain novel features in the construction ofthe shell-extractors, and in a novel manner of securing them in the breechblock by means of pins, which serve as indicators to show whether either or both barrels have been fired.

It also consists in various other details of construction, to be hereinafter described.

Though my invention is here shown as embodied in a double gun, certain features thereof are equally applicable to single guns.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section between the barrels of a double shot-gun embodying my invention, certain parts being broken away to reduce the length, and the breech-block being shown as closed. Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. l, except that the breech-block is shown as drawn back for the purpose of loading. Fig. 3 represents a side view of thel base plate or piece, which forms an important feature of my gun. Fig. 4t represents a transverse section upon the line w w, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a plan of the gun, a portion of the breech-block being broken away the better to illustrate my invention. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section through one ofthe barrels, the gun being shown as loaded and cocked. Fig. 7 represents a similar view after the hammer has been4 let down. transverse section upon the dotted line y y, Fig. 5. Fig. 9 represents a similar section upon the dotted line z z, Fig. 5. Fig. 10 represents a similar section upon the dotted line 1 l, Fig. 5 5 and Fig. l1 represents a perspective View of one of the extractors and indicator-pins detached from other parts.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the barrels, Which maybe made in any ordinary manner and of suitable shape, and the bores a a of which are suitably chambered at the breech to provide for the reception of the shell-extractors.

B designates a base plate or piece of cast metal, such as malleable cast-iron or cast-steel, to which all the parts of the gun are attached. The base plate or piece B has an approximately plain upper surface, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, and the barrels are faced oif upon the under side and have a long bearing upon said base plate or piece. One of said parts-in this example of my invention the base-plate B-is constructed with lugs b, projecting upward from its upper surface, and the other of these partsin this example of my invention the barrel A-is constructed with recesses o, which correspond to said lugs and receive them..

O designates a round rod or locking-bolt, inserted longitudinally through a hole in the lugs b and through the barrels, thus locking the barrels securely to the base plate or piece, and at the same time affording provision for their convenient detachment from each other, when desirable.

In order to prevent the round rod C from being accidentally displaced, I employ a spring, d, which engages with a notch, d', in said rod and prevents the withdrawal of the latter until Fig. 8 represents a the spring may be deflected. to draw it out of the said notch. The notch with which the said spring engages is in one side only of the rod,

Aand hence all that is necessary to disengage a', inserted through a hole in the base-plate B,

and provided at one side of its upper end with a laterally-projecting lip or fin, which, by the turning of the said shaft or spindle, is made to engage with a cut or groove in the breech of the barrel.

Upon the lower end of the shaft or spindle a is a crank or arm, b', by means of which it may be turned partly round to lock or unlock the barrel from the base-plate. Though both the rod C and the shaft or spindle a are here represented, one only may be sufficient.

The ends of the projecting lugs b and the ends of the grooves or recesses c may be inclined toward the breech, as clearly shown. When so constructed it is obvious that the barrel cannot be removed from the base-plate B without moving it also slightly in a longitudinal direction. When, however, the shaft or spindle a is turned so as to cause the lip or fin 4upon its upper end to engage with the groove or cut in the breech of the barrel, such longitudinal movement of the barrel upon the base-plate is prevented, and hence the barrel cannot be detached from the base-plate.

In order to hold the wood forearm of the stock firmly upon the base plate or piece B, I provide the under side of the latter with pins or teats c', (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which enter the wood of said forearm, and enable the screws usually inserted through the base-piece into the wood to be dispensed with.

, D designates the breech-block,which is composed of a steel or iron casting having in it two cavities, e, side by side, for the reception of the hammers, as hereinafter more fully described. 4 As clearlyrepresented in Figs. 9 and 10, the breech-block l) is constructed with a dovetailed rib or longitudinal projection, c', which engages with a correspondingly dovetailed groove or slideway in the upper surface of the base plate or piece B, thus providing for the proper guidance of the breech-block in its movement toward and away from the breech of the barrel. In order to still further aid in guiding said breech-block, I preferably extend the rod or locking-pin C through the same, it being provided with a hole for the reception of said rod, as shown clearly in Figs. l and 2. Considerable strain upon the base plate or piece would be produced by the recoil of the charge upon the breech-block, and to insure the said base-plate against springing or breaking, I provide it with downwardly-projecting lugs or ears a3 at the breech of the barrel,

whereby its strength is greatly increased, as shown in Fig. 3.

I will now describe the means whereby the breech-block D may be moved back and forth as desired, premising, however, that other suitable means might be used without departing from my invention.

E designates a lever, of peculiar form, pivoted to the breech-block D at e2, and hollowed out upon the under side, so as to receive betweenY its walls alink,F, which is pivoted inYV the base plate or piece B to a pin, f, forming a fixed fulcrum, and which is connected with said lever by a pin, f', passing through a slot in the end of said link. The hole in the opposite end of the link F, through which passes the pinf, is also slightly elongated, so that the link may have a slight longitudinal movement as the lever is swung back and forth to open and close the breech. 'lhe slot through which the pin f passes provides for making a sliding connection between the link and its fulcrum, so that when the pin f', which unites the link with the lever, moves below a direct line from the pin f to the pin e2, the link slides forward upon its fulcrum-pin fand prevents any tendency to pull back the breech-block. As shown clearly in Fig. l, the pin ff, when the lever E is closed entirely down, as there shown in full outline, passes belowa straight line drawn from the pin f to the pin e2, and hence a backward forcesuch as that produced by the recoil of the breech-bio'ck-would have no tendency whatever to raise the lever E and draw back the breech-block.

In order to hold the breech-block against recoil, the link F is constructed with a shoulder, a4, against which the end of the lever E bears when the breech-block is moved inward, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. In order, however, to still further guard against the backward movement of the breech-block, I employ a lever, G, pivoted at f2 to the breech-block, and adapted to engage with a catch in the barrel. The lever G has at its forward end an eye, f3, which is adapted to engage with a pin, f4, projecting from the top of the barrel, when the breech-block is pushed up tightly against the breech of the barrel. Attached to the lever G, between its fnlcruin f2 and the eye f3, is a bolt, g, which, by a spring, gf, is constantly pressed downward into a notch, g2, in the rod C, thus locking the breech-block to the rod (l and transmitting, in a direct line, the strain produced by the recoil of the breech-block. To still further hold the breech-block against backward movement, the lever E is provided at its end with a notch, It, and when said lever is closed down into the position shown in full outline in Fig. 1 the notch h engages with the end of the rod C in a manner clearly shown in Fig. l, and still further serves to hold the breech-block in place. The breech-block being thus held closed or locked to close the breech, it is necessary, in order to draw back the breech-block, that the notch h be disengaged IOO IOS

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from the rod C, that the bolt g be moved or raised out of engagement with the notch in the rod C, and that the eye f3 of the lever G be raised from the pin f4 upon the ba-rrel. The irst movement of the lever E from the position in full outline in Fig. l to that shown in dotted outline disengages the notch It from the rod C, and by means ot' a shoulder, z', upon said lever the tail ot the lever G is depressed and the bolt g raised sufiicientl y to disengage it from the notch in the rod C, while the end ot' the lever G in which is the eye f3 is raised sufficiently to disengage said eye from the pin f4, thus leaving the breeclrblock free to be moved back. The movement of the lever E is continued until the breech-block is drawn back to the full extent of its movement, when the lever E and link F will have assumed the positions shown in full outline in Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the rear portion ot' the base plate or piece B is constructed with a cavity, B', in its upper side, and the link F and lever E are of such shape that when closed down, as seen in Fig. 1, these parts will be under cover of the cavity B and partly concealed from view.

I will now describe the construction of the shell-extractors and the method of attaching them to the breech-block, and also the peculiarities of the lock mechanism.

The breech-block D is constructed with two cylindric cavities, j, which are side by side, one in line with each bore a of the barrel, and Hdesignates the extractors, each consisting of a ring-shaped or annular sleeve fitting inside one of the cavities j in the breech-block D, and a projecting` curved linger or extension, k, having an upturned lip, l, upon the end thereof, which is adapted to project over the edge ot' a spent shell and withdraw the latter when the breech-block itself is drawn back for the purpose ot loading. I I designate metal plugs, which are inserted within the ring-shaped portions of the extractors, and which are screwed in holes in the bottoms of the cavities j of the breech-block, and which are fitted somewhat loosely to the extractors, so that the extractors may, when desirable, be withdrawn from between the said plugs and the sides of the cavities j. Through the plugs I are inserted the tiring-pins m, which are pre- -vented from slipping out from the plugs by a simple device, hereinafter explained.

Turning, now, to the lock mechanism, K K designate hammers, which are pivoted at n n, and which are provided with short arms acted upon by the ordinary inainsprin gs, K.

L designates one of the triggers, pivotedat o, and having a notch, p, with which a projection, q, on the hammer engages. When the hammer is cocked the trigger is pressed t'orward lto engage with the hammer by a leaf spring, r. As shown clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, the spring r is held by a screw, r', which forms a support therefor, and which may be inserted in either of three holes there shown, to cause the spring to press with greater or less force on the trigger and adjust the pull thereof. lt is very desirable that some provision bemade for locking the trigger when the hammer is cocked, so that it cannot be pulled oft', and to provide for this I forni in the trigger a notch, s, and pivot to the under side of the triggerplate M a locking-plate, s2, which may be turned to engage with said notch to lock the trigger, or turned in the opposite direction to free it. This locking-plate being directly back of the trigger, it may be easily turned to free the trigger just before the latter is pressed by the iin ger.

As clearly shown in Fig. 10, the hammers K and triggers L are arranged at an angle to each other-that is, they converge toward the finger-pieces of the triggers-so as to bring the latter near together and well under the trigger-guard N, which is secured to the trigger-plate M, in the usual way.

As before stated, the breech-block D has in it two cavities, e, for the reception of the hammers, and when the breech-block is moved back the shoulders t thereon bear upon the plain faces of the hammers Kand cock them.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 7 that when the face of the hammer K bears upon the iring-pin m it is also against the shoulder t, and as soon as the backward movement of the breech-block commences the said shoulders carry the hammers away from the tiring-pins, and hence it would be impossible for the hammers to strike the tiring-pins and explode the shell unless the breech-block is at its farthest position inward-that is, tightly against the breech.

As seen most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the stock O is held securely between the rear portion of the base plate or piece B and the trigger-plate M by the screws a; and it will be observed that the gun is complete with all its working parts concealed, and may be tired even before the wooden stock is secured.

l will now describe the means whereby the extractors H are held in place in the breechblock, and the manner in which the said means is applied so as to form indicators to show whether the charges have either or both of them been tired. This feature is shown most clearly in Figs. 6, 7, and 9.

As before said, each extractor comprises a ring-shaped or annular sleeve fitting in a. c vlindric cavity'or socket, j, in the breech-block, and the eXtractors arc secured therein by means ot pins c, which are inserted trailsversely through the breech-block and the rin shaped or annular portions of the extractors. These pins o are of novel construction, to pen mit the withdrawal of the extractors from the breech-block, or, rather, to permitthe breechblock to be drawn away from the extractors, leaving them in the ends ofthe bores a of the barrel when the gun is loaded. This construction aiid arrangement ot' extractors provides for drawing back with the breech-block IOO IIO

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either extractor for loading, leaving the otherl extractor in the barrel. The ring-shaped portions of the extractors H are provided in opposite sides with holes w, for the reception of the pins c, and with slots w', extending from the said holes rearward to the end of the extractor, as shown in Fig. 11, and of less width than the said holes. The pins t comprise portions v', of lesser diameter than the other portions thereof, and when raised, as shown in Figs. (i and 9, the said portions of lesser diameter come opposite the narrow slots lw in the annular portion of the extractor H, and permit the ready withdrawal of the extractor, or, rather, of the release of the extractor from the breech-block when the latter commences its'backward movement. When, however, the pins c are so far down that the portions of larger diameter iit in the holes w, the extractors are locked fast in the breech-block and cannot be removed therefrom.

I also provide means whereby the pins u shall be raised when the gun is cocked, so that they will project above the barrel, as seen in Fig. 6, and indicate that the hammers are cocked. This means consists of two springs, s', arranged one under each pin c, having at their ends blocks or projections, upon which said pins rest. The natural tendency of the springs s' will throw them downward and permit the pins t to fall below the level of the top of the barrel; but the springs 8 are arranged immediately above the mainspri 1i gs K ,and consequently, when said mainsprings are moved up or deflected by the cocking of the hammers, they press upward the springs s', which, in turn, act upon the pins aand project them above the top of the barrel, indicating that the gun is cocked. When either of the hammers are down its mainspring K' will be down to its lowest position, and consequently the spring s will spring down, permitting the pin c to fall below the level of the top of the barrel and out of sight, thus indicating that that hammer is not cocked. The sportsman, when sighting his gun, can see at a glance whether veither of the hammers is cocked, and inasmuch as the hammers aid the sportsman in sighting, as the line of sight is between them, these pins accomplish the same purpose. The pins c are kept from falling out, in case of the gun being turned over, by means of two small pins, o', which engage with the portions c', which are of smaller diameter than the remaining portions of the pins u, and which are shown only in Fig.

, 9. lt will be observed, with reference to said ligure, that the tiring-pins in are in close proximity to the indicator-pins '0, and to enable them to pass by the said pins the firing-pins are recessed or notched upon one side, and they are therefore held in place in the breechplugs I, and prevented from dropping out when the gun is cocked and stands upon its stock.

By my invention I produce a very strong and durable gun, which may be very conveniently handled, and in which the utmost precaution is taken to prevent accidents resulting from its careless use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a breech-loading firearm, of a barrel and a base plate or piece, lugs upon one part engaging with recesses in the other part, a longitudinal rod for securing said barrel to said base plate or piece, and a breech-block, through which said rod passes, and which is movable upon said rod, substantially as specified.

Y 2. The combination of the base-plate B, constructed withv lugs b, the barrel A, constructed with recesses o, the round rod C, having a notch, d', in one side, and the spring d, en-

glaging with said rod, substantially as speci- 3. Tile combination, in a breech-loading firearm, of a base plate or piece, a barrel mounted thereon, a longitudinal rod for securing said barrel to said base plate or piece, a movable breech-block fitting upon said base plate or piece, and through which said rod passes, and a locking-bolt movable transversely in said breech-block, and engaging with a notch in said rod, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

L The combination, with a barrel,A, a base plate or piece, B, a longitudinal rod, (l, and a breech-block, D, of a lever pivoted to said breech-block, and adapted to engage with a` catch in said barrel, and a locking-bolt inovaj ble transversely in said breech-block and con-v nected with said lever, and adapted to engage with a notch in said rod C, substantially as specified.

5. rlhe combination of a movable breechblock, D, a barrel, A, a lever, G, pivoted to said breech-block, and adapted to engage with a catch upon the barrel, a lever, E, pivoted to said breech-block, and constructed with a shoulder, i, for acting upon the tail of said lever G, and a swinging link, F, all substantially as specified.

6. The combination of a base plate or piece,

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B, a barrel, A, a longitudinal rod, G, the end of which is notched, a movable breech-block, D, a lever, E, constructed with 'a notch, h, in one end, for engaging with said rod C, and a swinging link, F, all substantially as specied.

7. The combination, in a fire-arm, of a trigger, a leaf-spring for acting thereon, and a screw or pin, which forms a support for said spring, and which may be inserted in any one of a series of holes, whereby provision is afforded for adjusting the pull of the trigger, substantially as specied.

8. The combination, in a breech-loadin g rearm, of a breech-block constructed with a cylindric cavity, an extractor consisting of an annular portion adapted to tit in said cavity,and a projecting finger, provided at its `end with an upturned lip, and a pin inserted transversely through said breech block and extractor, substantially as specified.

9. The combination of a breech-block, D, constructed With a cylindrio cavity, j, an eX- tractor, H, comprising an annular or ringshaped portion adapted to t in said cavity, and constructed with holes w and narrowerslots w', and a pin, o, iitting in said holes and having,` portions of reduced diameter tting said slots, substantially as and for the purpose 10. The combination of a breech-block, D, a pin,o,inserted transverselythrough the breechblock, a hammer and trigger, a mainspring,

and a spring, s', arranged above said mainspring, and adapted to be raised by said malnspring to raise said pin, for the purpose specified.

11. The combination, in a breech-loading fire-arm, of a movable breech-block, a lever, one end of which is pivoted to said breechblook, and a swinging link having a fixed fulorum and a sliding connection with said fnlorum at one end, and pivoted to the said lever between the ends thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

substantially as and WM. E. BUDD. Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, A. C. WEBB. 

